Tilia cordata or other Tilia spp. (Linden) growing in Mediterranean climates

Hello
I am having a lot of trouble finding out if Tilia cordata, the European Linden tree, will grow in my climate - Mediterranean zone 9, 20-30 inches of rain on average (less in drought years a bit more in wet years). Lowland valley area, clay soils, pH 6.6-6.8

Does any one have experience with this?
Growing tips from experience?

And if not Tilia cordata, is there a better more drought or heat tolerant Tilia species for this area?
I’ve already ruled out Tilia americana (the East coast USA Linden) because I’m sure it’s too hot and dry here.

Thank you

We have 2 mature Tilia trees in front of our house. They were already there when we bought the place 2 years ago. I live in South of Spain, but I live at 1600m altityde on the north side of the mountain. So i do not have the typical mediteranean climate. We have a bit more rain then at lower altitudes and freezing temperatures in winter. Summer are still hot and dry (maybe one day of rain per month).

The trees are doing fine and are healthy, my wife likes to collect the flowers for tea.

No direct experience (our climate is more or less the exact opposite of dry and hot, and our lindens are still small) but I've read that Tilia tomentosa is more drought tolerant than other species. No idea how it manages heat, but I imagine it might be okay.

They grow very well here in central Portugal.

Burra Maluca wrote:They grow very well here in central Portugal.

Hi Burra

Do you know which species of Tilia they are?
Does central Portugal have humidity in summer and Fall or is it still very Mediterranean? Do you have summer rains at all?

Thanks

Mark Roelofs wrote:We have 2 mature Tilia trees in front of our house. They were already there when we bought the place 2 years ago. I live in South of Spain, but I live at 1600m altityde on the north side of the mountain. So i do not have the typical mediteranean climate. We have a bit more rain then at lower altitudes and freezing temperatures in winter. Summer are still hot and dry (maybe one day of rain per month).

The trees are doing fine and are healthy, my wife likes to collect the flowers for tea.

Thank you
So are the trees mostly in shade? Or are the tops tall enough to get sun?

Both  trees are in the sun almost the entire day. They only miss some morning sunshine

tuffy monteverdi wrote:Do you know which species of Tilia they are?
Does central Portugal have humidity in summer and Fall or is it still very Mediterranean? Do you have summer rains at all?

The species is Tilia cordata. In Castelo Branco there are streets lined with them and at the right time of year you will see little old men with steps and shopping bags walking from tree to tree gathering blooms to take home for the missus for making tea.

Here's a link to an area of the City named after the trees - Tilias

Summer rains are rare here. It's classic Mediterranean climate, with mild, moist (hahahahahah - wet, this year, to say the least!) winters and hot, dry summers.

During flowering, it does have a sweet, distinctive scent that you might want to check that you're ok with before planting too many too close to where you hang out...

Burra Maluca wrote:
The species is Tilia cordata. In Castelo Branco there are streets lined with them and at the right time of year you will see little old men with steps and shopping bags walking from tree to tree gathering blooms to take home for the missus for making tea.

Here's a link to an area of the City named after the trees - Tilias

Summer rains are rare here. It's classic Mediterranean climate, with mild, moist (hahahahahah - wet, this year, to say the least!) winters and hot, dry summers.

During flowering, it does have a sweet, distinctive scent that you might want to check that you're ok with before planting too many too close to where you hang out...

Oh great! This is the perfect information I needed to know. Thank you!! 🙏

Burra Maluca wrote:
The species is Tilia cordata. In Castelo Branco there are streets lined with them and at the right time of year you will see little old men with steps and shopping bags walking from tree to tree gathering blooms to take home for the missus for making tea.

Here's a link to an area of the City named after the trees - Tilias

Summer rains are rare here. It's classic Mediterranean climate, with mild, moist (hahahahahah - wet, this year, to say the least!) winters and hot, dry summers.

During flowering, it does have a sweet, distinctive scent that you might want to check that you're ok with before planting too many too close to where you hang out...

Oh I forgot to ask:
Are these city trees watered at all?
And what is your rainfall per year?
Thanks so much!

tuffy monteverdi wrote:Are these city trees watered at all?
And what is your rainfall per year?

The ones in the city are almost certainly watered, and I don't personally know of any 'in the wild' so couldn't say for sure how they cope without any irrigation.

Annual rainfall is around 35 inches, but there will generally be around six weeks of drought in July and August.

Burra Maluca wrote:

The ones in the city are almost certainly watered, and I don't personally know of any 'in the wild' so couldn't say for sure how they cope without any irrigation.

Annual rainfall is around 35 inches, but there will generally be around six weeks of drought in July and August.

Ahh ok
Portugal gets more rain than we do. Ok 👍
We have no rain between May 1 through Nov1 - so around 6 months of drought yearly.
Maybe I’ll have to set up permanent irrigation

Thank you!